Means for connecting sound tubes to dictating machines



May 5, 1942. 'r. H. BEARD EVI'AL Filed Nov. 26, 1940 Beard Lucarclle INVENTORS Theodore Joseph M. [7%

Patented May 5, 1942 MEANS FOR CONNECTING SOUND TUBES TO DICTATING MACHINES Theodore H. Beard and Joseph M. Lucarelle,

Bridgeport, Conn.,

assignors to Dictaphone Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 26, 1940, Serial No. 367,243

4 Claims.

This invention relates to dictating machines, and more particularly to improvements in the means for connecting sound tubes to the recording and reproducing units of dictating machines.

Machines of this character generally include a forwardly projecting casing attached to a carriage adapted to traverse a record cylinder This casing provides a mounting for movable means for supporting the recording and reproducing sound box or translation device, through the operation of which sound waves are converted into mechanical vibrations. The flexible conduit or sound tube, by means of which sound waves are led from the machine mouthpiece to the sound box, is usually connected to a tubular projection on the casing by providing the sound tube with a socket member at its inner end which is adapted to fit rotatably over this tubular projection and be retained thereon by theengagement of a set screw in the socket with a relatively short peripheral slot in the tubular projection.

Such machines are often controlled in their operation by means of a Bowden wire connected at through the interior of the sound tube to a point within the connecting socket at the inner end of the tube whence the wire leaves the tube by means of a side opening provided in the socket member and located at a point in advance of the above mentioned swivel connection. After leaving the sound tube the Bowden wire is then led through an opening in the machine carriage to a point of connection with the clutch actuating mechanism on the frame of the machine. Thus, the Bowden wire is enabled to travel with the carriage during the traversing movement of the latter, although rigidly secured to the frame at the extreme inner end of the wire.

In the use of a dictating machine of this type, the operator is constantly moving the mouthpiece from one position to another with reference to the machine. Movements of this sort result in limited relative rotation of the sound tube upon the sound box casing. Since, in a construction such as that just described, the Bowden wire leaves the sound tube in advance of the swivel connection, it follows that a portion of the Bowden wire is from time to time swung in an are about the center of said connection. This results in a tendency to bind the Bowden wire against edge surfaces of the carriage, and sometimes causes damaging wear of the outer member of the Bowden wire at such points of engagement.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improvement in the means for connecting the sound tube to the carriage which will eliminate or greatly reduce binding and wear of the Bowden wire; will provide eiiicient swiveling action; which will be dust proof and will present a much more pleasing appearance than the constructions commonly used.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements. and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of our invention Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a dictating machine embodying the present invention, the carriage being partly broken away and the parts forming the junction structure of the sound tube with the carriage being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the inner end of the sound tube and sound box casing showing connecting elements separated one from another in the order in which they are to be assembled;

Fig, 3 is a cross-section at 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of one of the connecting elements.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the various views of the drawmg.

The apparatus shown in the drawing includes conventional mechanisms and devices (a) for holding and controlling rotation of a record cylinder upon which dictation is to be recorded; (b) for operatively supporting a recording and reproducing translating unit in traversing relation to the record cylinder; and .(c) for conducting sound waves to and from the translation unit. The drawing also illustrates more particularly the junction unit of the present invention for effecting a swivel connection between the sound conducting means and the support for the translation unit.

Referring to Fig. 1, the record cylinder I is removably mounted in a well known manner upon a mandrel 2, which is rotatable by suitable driving mechanism, not shown, but which will be understoodto include a clutch whose operation may be controlled by means of a Bowden which connects the innerand outer walls.

wire 3. One member of the Bowden wire is secured at its inner end to a rigid portion of the machine frame, as at 4, the other member of the wire being connected to suitable clutch-actuating mechanism 5 and 6. The machine frame provides a pair of upright standards, one of which is shown at 8, for supporting certain rods 9 and I upon which a carriage II, serving as a record traversing means for the translation unit or sound box I2, is adapted to be moved longitudinally of the record mandrel 2.

The translation unit I2 is carried at the free end of a tone tube I3 pivotally mounted upon a slide I4 adapted to be moved in a reciprocatory manner within a slide casing I5, attached to the front of the carriage II by means of screws I6. The sound box I2 is provided with a recording stylus I1 and a reproducing stylus I8, either of which may be brought into operative relation with the record cylinder by proper adjustment I of the slide I4 within the casing I5. Sound waves are conducted from and/or to a well known but herein undisclosed type of hand unit including a mouthpiece, by means of a flexible sound tube I9 which, as usual, has a limited swiveling con- .1.

nection with a tubular forward projection of the slide casing I5. v

The Bowden wire 3, for controlling rotation of the mandrel 2, extends from its connection with the machine frame at 4 loosely through the carriage I I and through the sound tube I9 to a point for operative attachment within the hand unit,

not shown.

The general construction and arrangements of parts of the dictating machine, thus far described, are more fully disclosed in U. S. Patents Nos. 2,071,278 and 2,117,236 and form no part of the present invention.'

Referring to Fig. 2, the slide casing I5 will be seen to comprise a tubular body portion 20, a

truncated elliptical flange 2|, and a reduced tubular nipple or connecting plug 22. Flange 2I is provided with suitable perforations, one of which is shown at 23in Fig. 3, for the passage of the screws I6 which are threaded into corre--' sponding' holes formed in the front face of a projecting portion 24 of the carriage II. The inner end of the sound tube I9 is provided with a tubular terminal member comprising a flange and a nipple 26, the latter being formed and adapted to be received within a socket 21 formed within the forward end of a junction member or union 2B. The flange 25 determines the distance that the nipple may be entered within the socket 21 and insures the registry of a set screw 29 threaded through the wall of the socket, with a peripheral slot 30 cut in the surface of the nipple. When the set screw has been turned down into registry with the slot, the sound tube and union 28 are fastened together but may swivel in respect to one another to a limited extent.

Rearwardly of the bottom of the socket 21, a thin tubular wall 3I, whose inner diameter corresponds with the inner diameter of the sound tube, extends substantially centrally with respect to a gradually expanding outer wall 32, the latter having its origin in an annular interior flange 33 This flange constitutes the bottom wall of'the socket 21. The peripheral wall of the socket 21 is, in

fact, acforward projection of the outer wall 32, and the two walls 3I and 32 are connected and reinforced by means of a plurality of webs or ribs 34.; It should be noted, however, that, as shown at 35, no hollow space exists between thesaid inner and outer walls for a considerable distance included between radial lines diverging toward an upper portion of the union 28, the two walls being united by solid metal between these lines. The nipple 22 is formed and adapted to be received snugly but slidably within the socket formed by the inner wall 3| and to be securely fastened to the said socket by means of a set screw 36 passing through a threaded hole 31 piercing the solid metal segment 35. The set screw registers closely within a suitable opening 38 which pieces the wall of the nipple 22. By reference to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the union 28 does not, in assembled position, come quite into contact with the shoulder 39 of the sound box slide casing I 5, but leaves space for the interposition of the annular wall 40, partially closing the forward end of a sleeve or housing M of generally cup-shaped formation and somewhat elliptical in cross-section. This sleeve is adapted to 'be slipped over the slide casing I5, setting closely about the periphery of the flange 2I, the upper portion of its wall being extended rearwardly into substantial contact with a front wall of the carriage II, as shown at 42. Certain side portions of the sleeve M are extended laterally, as at 43 and 44, to avoid interference with certain projecting elements of the dictating machine which have no functional relation to the junction unit.

In the assembly of the junction unit, the sleeve M 'is first slipped into position over the slide casing l5 and is held against rotational movement by the engagement of its curved wall 45 with a rim of the flange 2I. The union 28 may then be brought into endwise engagement with the wall 40 of the sleeve which, it should be said, is

provided with an opening 46 fitting loosely. about the nipple 22. By setting up the screw 36,these parts are held immovably in position. Now the nipple 26 of the sound tube terminal member may be slipped into the socket 21 and made fast against withdrawal by means of the screw 29, thus providing a swiveling connection between the sound tube and the slide casing I5, the junction or connection being practically entirely enclosed and protected from dust by the sleeve, the wall 45 of which is streamlined to provide with the outer wall of the union 28 a smooth, apparently continuous, surface. This streamlined sleeve adds greatly to the appearance of the junction and of the dictating machine as a whole.

Another advantage of the presentjunction construction lies in the fact that the Bowden wire is relieved of all wearing contacts with edge surfaces of the carriage, as will now be shown. The

Bowden wire 3, as hereinbefore stated, passes loosely through the carriage structure from its point of attachment at 4 to the frame of the machine, and also passes loosely through the sound tube from its point of attachment to the mouthpiece unit, not shown herein, but which is attached to the outer end of the sound tube. However, the present junction construction provides a way to avoid lateral movement of the wire while swinging the sound tube from one position to another. This results from the fact that" the Bowden wire does not make its exit from the interior of the sound tube at a point 28 and a registering opening 45 in the end wall 40 of the sleeve 4| into the space between the sleeve 41 and the casing 15, whence the said wire comes within the confines of the carriage l I by way of an opening 50 formed in the front wall of the carriage. It will be noted that in its passage from the opening 49 to the opening 50, the wire passes along the outside of the casing 15 and the carriage projection 24. A groove 5| in a tapered forward portion of the casing body 20, and grooves 52 and 53 in the flange 2| and carriage projection 24, give room for this lay of the wire outside of these elements and serve to hold this portion of the wire against lateral displacement. The wire is also held firmly and elastically in position within the passage 41 by means of a rubber washer 54 which surrounds the Bowden wire and fits snugly within the passage 41. Thus it will be seen that the Bowden wire is firmly held against lateral movement upon the carriage side of the swivel joint and that its position within the joint is substantially unaffected by movements of the outer end of the sound tube because of the relatively great length of wire lying within the sound tube between the said swivel joint and the said outer end. The union 28, it should be noted, is a unitary metal casting comprising the socket 21, the inner and outer walls 3| and 32, and the passage 41.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention attains the ends and objects herein set forth in a simple and eifective manner; and that the junction unit embodying the invention is protected from dirt and dust and presents an attractive streamlined appearance.

We claim:

1. In a dictating machine, in combination, a sound tube, a carriage comprising a projecting slide casing for a translation unit, a flexible element extending through the interior of the sound tube and constituting means for controlling a function of the machine, a union interposed between said slide casing and said tube, means at one end of said union providing a swivel connection for said sound tube surrounding a portion of said element, means at the other end of said union to immovably connect said union to said slide casing, and means providing a passage extending longitudinally through a wall of said union to lead said element without material change of direction from the interior of said.

union within said swivel connection to the exterior of said slide casing.

2. In a dictating machine, in combination, a sound tube, a carriage comprising a projecting slide casing for a translation unit, a flexible element extending through the interior of the sound tube and constituting means for controlling a function of the machine, a union interposed between said slide casing and said tube, means at one end of said union providing a swivel connection for said sound tube surrounding a portion of said element, means at the other end of said union to immovably connect said union to said slide casing, means providing a passage extending longitudinally through a wall of said union to lead said element without material change of direction from the interior of said union within said swivel connection to the exterior of said slide casing, and a sleeve surrounding said slide casing and the portion of said element lying exteriorly of said casing having a transversely extending position maintaining wall interposed between adjacent surfaces of said casing and said union.

3. In a dictating machine, a union adapted at one end to make a swivel connection with the end of a sound tube and at the other end to be rigidly secured to a projecting tubular portion of the machine, comprising a unitary molded member having at said one end a single tubular wall and at said other end an inner tubular wall and a spaced outer wall, and means in the space between said inner and outer walls providing a passage extending from the space confined by said tubular wall at said one end to space between said two walls at said other end of said member.

4. In a dictating machine, in combination, a sound tube, a carriage comprising a projecting slide casing for a translation unit, a flexible element extending through the interior of the sound tube and constituting means for controlling a function of the machine, and a junction member interposed between said slide casing and said tube having at one end means adapted to cooperate with an end of said sound tube to effect a swivel connection therewith and at the other end means adapted to cooperate with the slide casing to efiect a rigid connection, and comprising means forming a passage for conducting said flexible element from an interior point between said swivel connection and said slide casing longitudinally through a wall of said member to the exterior of said slide casing.

THEODORE H. BEARD. JOSEPH M. LUCARELLE. 

